Differential support for hoists



Feb. 27, 1951 o. v. TEEGARDEN 2,543,260

DIFFERENTIAL SUPPORT FOR HOISTS Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Z Egg.

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Patented Feb. 27, 1951 DFFERENTIAL SUPPORT FR HOISTS tto V. Teegarden, Goshen, Ind., assignor to Verne Stephenson, Goshen, Ind.

application November 29, 1946, serial No. '113,168

My present invention relates to a support for engaging the diiferential of an automobile after it is driven on a hoist and the hoist is thereafter elevated.

One object of the invention is to provide a support mounted on a drive-on hoist in such manner that it may be adjusted longitudinally of the rails thereof from a convenient point at the end of the hoist and can also be adjusted laterally of the rails to register with the diiferential of the automobile when not exactly centered laterally thereover.

Another object is to provide means for adjusting the support from a lowered to an elevated position in relation to the rails of the hoist so that the automobile can be freely driven over the rails and the support then may be raised relative to the rails so that it keeps the automobile level when the hoist is subsequently elevated to (l) Sliding of the support longitudinally of the rails,

(2) Raising and lowering of the supporting element relative to the rails and 3) Lateral shifting of the supporting element -relative to the rails. v Y

A further obiect is to provide a differential support which is readily adiustable with a minimum of effort and which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate from the standpoint of convenience of a service station attendant lin handling an automobile on a hoist.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction. arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a hoist with my differential support mounted thereon, the position of the automobile wheels and axlesin relation thereto being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view ofthe support with the upper flanges of the I beam rails 5 Claims. (Cl. 2541-89) lower anges of the I. beams or rails IB.

of the hoist broken away and the vertical webs thereof shown in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure Ll is a similar sectional view showing ie parts in a diiferent position, and

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines and -f-, respectively, of Figure 4.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral il) to indicate the rails of adrivo-on hoist. These are ordinarily connected 'together by a center member I2 secured to a i!! extending downwardly into a cylinder imbedded in 'the floor of a garage or service station. Compressed air or oil is supplied to the cylinder for causing the hoist to elevate an automobile or other load.

My differential support comprises a channel shaped cross bar I6, the web of which is cut away at the ends to provide notches I8 to t the The cross barv iii merely rests on these flanges and is thereby slidable longitudinally of the rails.

To prevent the cross bar l5 from twisting out ".of alignment and bending, I provide guide rods 2li welded through the flanges of the bar I5 and vhaving offset ends 22 serving as slic'e shoes along the vertical webs of the I beams l0.

Slidaoie longitudinally of the bar l-is a oarriage 213 which is also a channel and to guide it .in its sliding movement square bars or rods 25 .(see. Figure 6) are welded to the web of this channel. To limit the sliding movement of the carriage 2d relative to the cross bar l5, I provide a bolt 28 through a perforation 39 in the bar i6 and through a slot 32 in the carriage 24 (see Figure 3). The bolt has a washer 3,@ thereon and a pair of lock nuts which are adiusted to a point where they permit sliding but prevent binding and prevent the carriage 24 from moving upwardly to a point where the guide rods 2E would be out of position between the anges M'of the cross bar l.

A supporting element 38 in the form of an inverted channel is provided to engage the differential housing 4B of an automobile. A pair of positioning blocks 42 are welded to the upper surface of the web of the channel 38 to prevent lateral movement of the differential housing when supported on the supporting element 38. The supporting element 38 is in turn supported on the carriage 24 by means of two pairs of links d4 pivoted to the carriage and the supporting element by means of pivot pins 46 and 68. Theselinks are adapted to assume the position -tial housing 4B.

shown in Figure 3 with the supporting element 38 lowered so that its flanges rest on the anges of the cross bar I6, or a raised position shown in Figure 4 with a stop block 50 welded to the web of the channel 38 resting on a stop block 52 Welded to the web of the channel I6. Thus the right hand end of the supporting element in Figure 4 is supported. The left hand end is supported by reason of its flanges resting onstop straps t welded to the flanges lof thecarriage it and extending upwardly.

In the upper position just described the links 44 are slightly past vertical deadcenter so that any weight on the supporting element`38 tends to swing them counter-clockwise and thus prevent accidental return of the supportingielement to the position of Figure 3 while a weightis imposed on the supporting element. To=prevent interference of the stops 50, 52 and 54 'andthe flanges of the element 38 with each other, their corners are roundedlasbestv shown in Figure-4.

For controlling the diierential support, l.pr.o vide a rod 56 oscillatably mounted v in the lower nange o the carriage 24 (see Figure 2) .and held against endwise movement by a pair ofcollars 58. The rod extends through a slot 60. anda bar 62, and terminates in a handle 64. A second handle S6 is providedmadjacent the handle 6d and the `latterhandleis secured to a tube 68 oscillatable mounted on the rod 56.

The rod 56 Vhas an actuating arm 18 and the tube -63 has an actuating arm 62. These are respectively connected by links 'Hand 16 to a stud 'E8 extendingrom the supporting element 3J and -to a bracket-.B6 extending Afrom `'the cross bar I6.

Practical operation .In the operation of my diierentialfsupport,

after the automobile is driven over the hoist (the hoist being lowered to a position vcontacting with the floor) the differential Vsupport may be adjusted as lfrom the dotted position of Fgure 1 to the solid line position for registering the support in one direction with the dileren- While the automobile is being driven on the hoist the supporting element 38 of course would be Vin the lowered position of Figure 3.

Alfter ,longitudinally positioning the 'support,

38 from the position offFigure 3 to the position of Figure 4. This .is accomplished by turning the handle Sii counter-clockwise so that 'the link 'ill causes the element 33 to move up and to the left and the links @Il to rotate counter-clockwise.

It may now be found that the :positioning blocks d2 are not centered in relation to fthe housing Ail. Accordingly thehandle 5,6 maybe rotated, for instance, counter-clockwise from the position of Figure 3 to 'shift the carriage 24 `to the right as shown in Figure 4 so 'that the supporting element 38 is centrally located with respect to the housing d. Figure 3 shows a 'central position for the carriage 24 and Figure 4 shows by means of dot and dash lines the extreme left-hand position thereof, the solidlines in Figure 4 of course showing the extreme righthand position.

After the 'diierential support is properly located in respect to the drerential housing-4U the'hoist may be operated for elevating theautomobile `-ier greasing or other work to be performed thereon. After the hoist is lowered the diierential supporting'elementB Vis returnedto the position of Figure 3 by rotating the handle `iillcloclrwise the Ynext step is to raise the supporting element and the automobile can be driven off the hoist.

The handles t6 and 66 located as they are on the extended rod 56 and tube 68 serve to impart all three adjustments to the differential support at a position of the operator beyond the end of the lift and the automobile. The slot 60 permits the required movement of the tube and rod laterally with the carriage 24 as it is shifted.

lThe device .is convenient to operate and convvenient to adjust as required after the automobile is positioned over the hoist. It is not always apossible to accurately center the vehicle with .respect Vto the hoist when driving over it and the 'longitudinal'and lateral adjustments of the differentialsupport'therefore compensate for any msralignment and at the same time engage the .differential housing for proper balance of the automobile as it is being elevated.

f Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without `departing from the real spirit and purpose of ,my invention, .and it is my intention -to cover by .my claims yany .modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may -be reasonably .included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. Inan accessory of the character disclosed, =a irst carriage movable longitudinally of a hoist, :a second carriage movable on said first carriage .laterally .of said hoist, a supporting element, .pivoted link .connection between said second carriage and said supporting element, and means for operatingsaid carriages and supporting eleent-comprising a rod extending from said second carri-age and having Van arm, a link connected with said'armand with saidsupporting element, ,a `tube-surroundingsaid rodrand having an arm, al second 4link yconnected with said last arm and with saidrstcarriage, said hoist having a slotted cross bar at one end thereof through which said .rod and vtube extendend handles mounted on the rodand tube `for oscillating them and thereby their-arms.

2. V,In an accessory of the character disclosed, la carriage Amovab e longitudinally of a hoist, a rsupporting element, -a pivoted arm and link confnection between said carriageand-said supporting element, and meanslor 'operating sad carriage and said supporting element comprising a rod extending from said arm and journalled in said carriage,and ya `handle mounted on said `rod -for oscillating it, said rod serving as a means to slide saidcarriage longitudinally of said rails.

3. In an accessory ofthe character disclosed, va rst carriage movable longitudina ly cfa hoist, a second carriage movable on said first carriage laterally of isaid hoist, a supporting element,

pivotedY link connect-ion between said second carriage and ysadqsupporting element, and means forfoperating said carriages and supporting ele- .ment comprising a rod extending from said second carriage and rhaving an arm, a link connected withfsaid jarm-and with said supporting element, aftube surround-ng said rod and having an arm, Vlal second linkconnected with said last arm and `witlrsaid rst carriageyand handles mounted on 'the rod'and'tube'for oscillating them, said handles Aserving alsoas a means tc effect such longitudinal movement of said rst carriage.

4.1nanaccessory or" the character disclosed, ia first carriage movable longitudinally of an elon- Vgated lhoist, 1a `second carriage movable laterally of said rst carriage, a supporting element on `said second carriage, an extension handle for laccomplishing both-of said movements, said extension handle comprising a rod extending from an operating position beyond the end of the hoist vto saidysecond carriage and connected therewith to push and pull both carriages along the, hoist, and a tube oscillatable on said rod and provided with an arm linked to said rst carriage for sliding said second carriage relative to said rst carriagev when said tube is oscillated.

5. In an accessory of the character disclosed, a rst carriage movable longitudinally of an elongated hoist, a pair of carriages, one movable longitudinally of the hoist and the other movable laterally thereof and carried by the rst carriage, a supporting element on said second carriage, said supporting element being variable in elevation Withirespect to said second carriage, a telescoping' rod and tube operating member rotatably and non`slidably connected with one of said carriages, and arm and link connections from said rod and said tube to the other oi said carriages and to said supporting element for moving said second carriage along said rst carriage and thereby laterally of said hoist and for changing the elevation of said supporting element respectively, said operating member having manually engageable portions extending beyond the end of the hoist.

OTTO V. TEEGARDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

